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These chicken drumsticks in oven are a healthy alternative for fried chicken lovers! They are seasoned and baked to perfection and loved by all!

These baked beauties taste delicious paired with Buttermilk Biscuits, Cheesy Hasselback Potatoes, and Roasted Green Beans.

Two baked drumsticks in oven on a white plate.


Delicious and more healthy

When I’m feeling motivated to eat healthier, it seems like chicken is all I eat. Even though there are so many wonderful ways to make chicken, it can still get a little old sometimes. So, we’re always on the look out for new ways to switch up our chicken dishes, like these drumsticks made in the oven.

The batter coating the chicken is light, tasty, and just perfect enough to make you lick your fingers. The best part is that it tastes just like Kentucky Fried Chicken but they’re not fried at all – they’re BAKED!!

I was surprised that they tasted so good for being baked, but they were, which means I’ll feel less guilty when I have a few. 😉 When a recipe tastes this good and is this easy, it’s a winner in my book.

How to Bake Drumsticks in Oven

  1. BREAD. Coat each drumstick in the breading mixture (only 4 ingredients!), and then place in a 9×13 pan with a little bit of melted butter. Once they’re all breaded and in the pan, spray lightly with the spray butter and then place in the oven.
  2. BAKE. Bake at 450° for 30 minutes, then remove from the oven, flip each chicken leg, spray with butter once more, and then bake for an additional 15-25 minutes, until they’re as crispy as you want them to be.
    • Tip: For easy clean up line the cooking pan with aluminum foil.

Can I use other cuts of chicken besides drumsticks? You can easily substitute other cuts. You will just have to adjust the bake times. Bake until juices run clear.

  • Thighs: 375 degree oven for about 30 minutes
  • Breasts: 375 degree oven for 20 minutes                                                                                        
  • Boneless Wings: 350 degree oven for 30 minutes
  • Bone-In Wings: 400 degree oven for 45 minutes
Baked drumsticks in a glass baking dish

Storing leftovers

Throw away leftover chicken if it has been at room temperature for more than two hours. STORE leftovers in the fridge for 3-4 days. You can also FREEZE leftovers. Use an airtight container, freezer bags, or wrap in aluminum foil. Freeze for 4-6 months.

To REHEAT chicken in the micrwave, place chicken on a microwave safe dish, cover with a damp paper towel, heat for 45 seconds flip and heat for 45 seconds more.

To heat in the oven place chicken in an oven safe dish. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Lightly coat the chicken with olive oil, heat uncovered for 25 minutes.

These chicken legs are sooooo crispy and DELICIOUS! We just had this recipe again for the second time this month which means it’s definitely a KEEPER. 😉

what to serve with drumsticks:

Close up of baked drumsticks in oven on glass baking dish

For more great chicken recipes, check out:

4.86 from 42 votes

Chicken Drumsticks in Oven

By: Lil’ Luna
These perfectly seasoned chicken drumsticks in oven are a healthier alternative to fried chicken and are finger-licking good!
Servings: 6
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 45 minutes
Total: 55 minutes

Ingredients 

  • 2-3 tablespoons butter
  • ¾ cup Bisquick mix
  • teaspoons paprika
  • teaspoons salt
  • ¼ teaspoon pepper
  • 3 pounds chicken drumsticks, chicken legs
  • spray butter

Instructions 

  • Preheat oven to 425°F.
  • Melt butter in a 9×13 baking dish in the oven.
  • While butter is melting, stir together Bisquick, paprika, salt, and pepper in a bowl. Coat each chicken drum and place in 9×13 with melted butter.
  • Spray with butter before putting in the oven and once during baking.
  • Bake for 30 minutes, flip, and bake an additional 15-25 minutes. ENJOY!!

Video

Notes

STORE. Throw away leftover chicken if it has been at room temperature for more than two hours. Keep leftovers in the fridge for 3-4 days.
FREEZE. Use an airtight container, freezer bags, or wrap in aluminum foil. Freeze for 4-6 months.
To reheat, place chicken on To heat in the oven place the chicken in an oven-safe dish. Preheat oven to 325°F. Lightly coat the chicken with olive oil, and heat uncovered for 25 minutes. 

Nutrition

Calories: 334kcal, Carbohydrates: 8g, Protein: 27g, Fat: 20g, Saturated Fat: 6g, Cholesterol: 150mg, Sodium: 846mg, Potassium: 373mg, Sugar: 1g, Vitamin A: 470IU, Calcium: 39mg, Iron: 1.4mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Making this recipe? Tag us!
Share it with us on Instagram using the hashtag #lilluna, so we can see what you’re creating in the kitchen!

Adapted from bettycrocker.com.



About Kristyn

My name is Kristyn and I’m the mom of SIX stinkin’ cute kids and the wife to my smokin’ hot hubby, Lo. My mom’s maiden name is Luna, and I’m one of the many crafty “Lil’ Lunas” in the fam. On this site I like to share all things creative - from recipes to home decor to gifts and home decor ideas. Welcome!

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Recipe Rating




98 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    This recipe is so simple and the results are delicious. My only mistake was removing the skin, next time I’m leaving it. You weren’t kidding when you said the drumsticks taste like KFC neither.

    1. Oh I’m so glad you enjoyed the drumsticks! KFC from home, right? 😉 Thanks for your response!

  2. 5 stars
    A family favorite! We call it Fire Alarm Chicken cause the popping butter has set off our fire alarm a few times. To avoid that now I heat the pan in the oven, then remove it and add the butter to the hot pan.

  3. Two different temperatures are listed for the drumsticks( 450 before the recipe + 425 in the recipe). Also the cooking times for alternative chicken pieces seem way off. Example: Cooking a large breast piece at a lower heat than the drumsticks and for a mere 20 minutes ? ! ? Can you confirm or correct, please.

    1. I actually cook whole skinless chicken breasts for my dog I cook about 10 pounds on a half sheet at 450 degrees for 26 minutes and they come out perfect every time. That’s like two family packs from Walmart although recently conditions have made me go to a different grocery store which offered Tyson and I don’t think that Tyson puts as much fluid in their chicken breasts and they came out even better. So I was here on this website to see if cooking drumsticks was any different and didn’t really get a clear answer.